yvonne1

Latest posts by yvonne1

Lots of advice you've had but at the end of the day I'm afraid it's down to hard work. But like I said, do it in small chunks, another tip I found very helpfull is to cover the ground you clear with old compost bags, carpet, even cardboard and that will stop the weeds seeding and that will save having to do it again. Frost will never kill off brambles but it will certainly kill off some of the many slugs and snails the wet weather has brought out in force.

Don't rotovate, don't rotovate, DON'T ROTOVATE. Don't try to clear it all in one go unless you have lots of help. I moved into a property in a similar state and you have to do it a patch at a time, that way you can keep on top of what you have cleared and each year clear a bit more and then keep on top of that. It's much easier when you you take small "bites". I'm afraid digging the roots out is the best way unless you want to use some serious weed killer in which case you would have to wait 2 years before you could use the ground and I wouldn't trust it even after 2 years.

As an older gardener and mother of 4 I'd just like to point out that many pregnant women eat coal and many children also. To my certain knowledge no one has yet died, been poisoned or suffered internal problems. Dig the soil out if you want, or leave it and as already advised add plenty of organic matter and plant what ever you choose. Happy gardening

I over wintered a chilli bought in the "reduced" section at Home Base last year and when it got cold brought it inside on a window sill and was still picking chillies at Christmas. It is now back in the greenhouse, still in the pot it was bought in and still producing chillies. As for picking they will keep better on the plant until you need them.